Exactly 6 months and a few days after the inauguration of governments in most states of the federation today. Fast forward to this day, visionary men have moved on from politics to building institutions, setting up government policies to cater for the urgent and future needs of their people, some already commissioning or investing in infrastructural developmental projects that will touch the lives of the people across board.
One governor stands out though, but for the wrong reasons. That is Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State. He is still leaving in the past and hasn’t done much to show any signs of moving into the future with visionary leadership or positive governance, but more interested in quick fix on critical issues bedevilling the state. There might be many factors that triggered the incumbent against his predecessor but the most obvious is Yari’s continues growing political clout despite many security challenges he faced while in power.
Matawalle entered a peace deal with bandits which was welcomed by many spectators but raised the eyebrows of experts and those well informed with the security challenges Zamfara has faced for over a decade. At this juncture, it is imperative to state out that wanton killings have reduced but haven’t stopped, Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi are now safe heavens for bandits as they attack communities with zero resistance from security forces, local vigilante groups who hitherto were the guardian angels of communities have been crippled by the flawed peace deal. For many reasons, bandits still roam around carrying automatic rifles in broad daylight, rustling cattles and committing many atrocities.
A publication by Premium Times online newspapers, reported that hundreds of bandits were sighted at Kwanar Mayanci on 2/9/2019 where they extorted shops and a filling station before proceeding to an unknown location. Another paper Solacebase reported an attack on a military formation in Anka LG on 4/9/2019 that left servicemen dead with many sustaining serious injuries. Premium times also reported on 12/10/2019 how soldiers repelled an attack on former Governor Sen. Ahmed Sani’s farm which left casualties from both sides. This has been the trend since the government’s peace deal with attacks on communities that Matawalle has refused to acknowledge after telling the whole world he has restored peace which his predecessor couldn’t.
For Matawalle security is his best political weapon and thus he can’t accept or admit the failure of his peace deal as it can do great damage to his self-serving ego and political ambition. It was becoming obvious banditry hasn’t ended as claimed by the Governor, he resorted to looking for trouble in paradise by blaming anyone but himself whenever there is an attack. First Matawalle blamed local vigilantes who have always gallantly defended and fended off attacks by criminals to the best they can. Then came the big one, Matawalle first claimed disgruntled politicians are collaborating with the dreaded Boko Haram to launch attacks in Zamfara, this caused so much apprehension and fear into the minds of people in the process shaping a negative narrative against his main opposition. The media war was only starting at this point, this was actually a well-planned media propaganda, well-scripted for the gullible to make them believe the immediate past Governor has a direct link with criminals operating in the State. Whenever there are attacks, Matawalle points at his political opponents rather than pointing fingers towards perpetrators of these attacks or working on bringing them to books. The allegations levelled against Yari are heavy with no single evidence presented but rather full of sentiments and envy. Matawalle went out of hand to allege Yari is working with the dreaded international terrorist group Boko Haram to the utter dismay of security experts and enthusiast in the country. In another attempt, he also alleged Yari was behind the Gummi attacks which left over a dozen people dead with many injured, furthermore insinuating that Yari’s visits and bandit’s attacks are too much for a coincidence, he went further with threats of arrest on Yari whenever he steps into Zamfara. This didn’t go down well with the opposition as such the party through its spokesman in person of Alh Ibrahim Dan Malikin Gidan Goga responded and debunked these allegations, telling Matawalle to do his business of governance and desist from media witchunt and heating up the polity. Dan Maliki reasserted that “Matawalle has always claimed to have ended banditry when bandits are still in possession of over 3 million fire arms/ammunitions and operate without much hindrance from authorities in the state”. He also claimed, “Matawalle knows who the killers of the people are as he is always seen with them at the government house having a cup of tea”. Dan Maliki also with references stated villages and communities that were attacked by bandits in recent times despite his media claims and paper victory over bandits. This didn’t go down well with Matawalle as he ordered the arrest of Dan Maliki which was supervised and carried out by his security details. Dan Maliki was whisked away to an unknown location from his residence which prompted an uproar on social media demanding for his immediate release, those whose voices were the loudest were also targeted, Shafiu Bala Gusau and Nura Greedy were arrested for their protest on Facebook. Before them, Ibrahim Na Maradun was arrested and taken to prison for his criticism of the Governor. Dan Maliki a former Commissioner of Information was arraigned in a Court in Gusau amidst heavy protests but was hastily remanded in prison custody on 25/11/2019 for two weeks without a bail hearing or proper prosecution. Fast forward to Wednesday of the same week, another APC chieftain and former Commissioner for Local Government during Yaris administration, Alh Dan kande Gamji Bakura was abducted in his residence by the same set of security men. He was charged to the same Court as Dan Maliki and the outcome was predictable before Court proceedings. He was also remanded in prison custody. Dan Kande’s offence was speaking up for Dan Maliki and other party members that were arrested. At this point many social media critics of Matawalle feared for their lives and left town, those who stayed received treats from unknown entities, political foes and police invitations to halt their criticism of the Government or get arrested too. An attempt was also made to arrest Alhaji Sani Gwamna Mayanci at his farm just after a meeting of stakeholders and supporters of the APC on Saturday afternoon in Gusau. People resisted the attempted arrest and the security left unprepared leaving behind their Hilux vehicles and an ID card belonging to Sgt Jamilu Muhammad with Force No 276221. So far, Matawalle has succeeded in arresting no fewer than six (8) social media users one APC youth leader Alhaji Matutu, and two (2) former Commissioners in the name of incitement of violence.
With all this in mind, it is clear that Yari and the APC have moved on from their loss, they are now focused on engaging their party members and supporters on how to carry everyone along on party decisions and dealings, consulting relevant stakeholders and ponder on strategies to best employ for the interests of the party and the State in general. Matawalle should focus on Governance and leave politics for its time.
Imran Rufai wrote this piece from Zamfara
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